Mohun Bagan win derby match vs East Bengal 4-3

Kolkata, Aug 17 (UNI) Mohun Bagan defeated holders Kingfisher East Bengal 4-3 in the season's first derby between the two in a premier division encounter of the Calcutta Football League.

Mohun Bagan remain undefeated tallying 13 points from five matches, while East Bengal playing their fifth match remain on 12 points.

Mohun Bagan began strongly and found an early goal in the ninth minute when forward P Lalawmpuia scored capitalizing on East Bengal defender Abdul Samed's miss pass. The lead was doubled in the 35th minute when Bagan's talismanic striker Jose Barreto found the mark from the spot-kick.

The team went on a 3-0 lead at halftime to the mad euphoria from from the fans as game-maker Shanmugam Venkatesh scored off a brilliant angular shot in the 43rd minute.

East Bengal came back strongly in the second session and reduced the lead in the 46th minute through Alvito D'Cunha goal (3-1).

However, Venkatesh put the affair almost beyond doubt with another 56th minute goal to hand Mohun Bagan a 4-1 lead.

East Bengal continued attacking and D'Cunha got its second goal in the 61 stminute (4-2). East Bengal's Brazilian recruit, Edmilson Marques, made it 4-3 off a penalty in the 68th minute thereby narrowing the chase.

UNI